Overview
- Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma formally retired from Test cricket in May after exiting T20Is last year and will now play only one-day internationals.
- Both veterans last featured in an ODI during India’s Champions Trophy triumph in March, where Kohli top-scored in the semi-final and Sharma earned Player of the Match in the final.
- Anil Kumble warns that India’s nine-match ODI slate—three each in Bangladesh (August), Australia (October) and South Africa (December)—offers limited preparation time.
- Selectors are widely tipped to name Shubman Gill as India’s next Test captain to fill the leadership void left by Kohli and Sharma.
- Emerging batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan are among the contenders expected to strengthen India’s white-ball line-up in the upcoming series.